An Ghaeltacht Lead List Of Ulster Bank RugbyForce Winners

The An Ghaeltacht club from Carraroe, County Galway have been announced as the overall winners of Ulster Bank RugbyForce, receiving a support package worth 10,000 euro and a training session with an IRFU coach and two Ireland rugby stars.

Four additional clubs - Gort RFC in Galway, Portarlington RFC in Laois, Skibbereen RFC in Cork and Armagh RFC - have also been chosen as provincial winners, each receiving a €5,000 support package.

Speaking today, Cian de Buitléar, secretary of An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí, said: "This is a fantastic boost - not only for our club but for everyone in An Ghaeltacht. Our rugby club is a small operation but a big part of our community.

"Finding funding to maintain our pitch and facilities is not always easy but the Ulster Bank RugbyForce support package will go a long way in helping us to build our club and our team - in turn, building a great asset for our important community."

Ulster Bank RugbyForce gives rugby clubs the opportunity to win support packages to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities.

The winning clubs then host a planned 'Ulster Bank RugbyForce weekend' which is designed to bring the community together to get behind their club.

Ulster Bank runs the initiative as part of their Official Community Rugby Partnership with the IRFU and this year, over 135 clubs entered Ulster Bank RugbyForce. Since the initiative began in 2010, over €130,000 has been awarded to 165 clubs.

With the support of the Ulster Bank RugbyForce funding, An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí plan to carry out essential works on their training pitch, purchase training equipment and help to develop the club's mini rugby teams.

The funding will also go towards the organisation of the club's annual 'Conamara Rugby Blitz', which sees over 400 children from across the country travel to An Ghaeltacht.

Speaking about An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí and Ulster Bank RugbyForce,Ellvena Graham, Head of Ulster Bank NI & Managing Director of SME Banking, said: "An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí embodies what club rugby is all about. The club brings a focal point and pride to their community.

"An initiative like Ulster Bank RugbyForce is so important for the development of Irish rugby. There are young players across the country right now, who will one day wear a green jersey and play for their country.

"Supporting grassroots rugby today will benefit Irish rugby tomorrow and thankfully, Ulster Bank RugbyForce does just that. An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí are very deserving winners and I wish them every success."

For further information on Ulster Bank RugbyForce and all of Ulster Bank's rugby initiatives, please visit www.ulsterbank.com/rugby.

The Ulster Bank League fixtures for 2015/16 have been announced. Division 1A will kick off with two mouth-watering Friday Night Lights Dublin derby games as Old Belvedere host Terenure College and UCD play last season's beaten finalists Clontarf.

MU Barnhall RFC hosted their first ever Special Needs Tag Rugby Blitz last weekend. Great fun was had by the players and coaches from the Barnhall Buffaloes, Salmo Eagles, Westmanstown Taggers, Terenure Tigers and Mullingar Lions as they showed that rugby is a sport for all.

The sun shone on the Aviva Stadium for the Aviva National Mini Rugby Festival and there was a special guest appearance from Luke Fitzgerald and the RBS 6 Nations trophy. The real stars, however, were the players!

We look back at some of the winners of the 2015 Ulster Bank League Awards, and hear from Ulster Bank's Doug Munro, Ulster Bank Rugby Ambassador Alan Quinlan, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and IRFU President Louis Magee.

We caught up with Division 1A's Coach of the Year John Staunton (Young Munster), Rising Star Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne) and Top Points Scorer Josh Glynn (Old Belvedere) at the 2015 Ulster Bank League Awards.

A nail-biting Ulster Bank League Division 1A final saw Lansdowne crowned 2014/15 champions with an 18-17 win over Clontarf. Take a look behind the scenes at the Aviva Stadium - the home of Irish rugby.

Lansdowne captain Ron Boucher is primed to lead out the HQ club at the Aviva Stadium in Saturday's Ulster Bank League Division 1A final. We spoke to him this week about the challenge of playing last year's winners Clontarf.

Looking forward to Saturday's Ulster Bank League Division 1A final against Clontarf, Lansdowne head coach Mike Ruddock said: "It's a fantastic opportunity for both teams to showcase their talent. I'm sure it will make for an exciting game."

Clontarf head coach Andy Wood says they are focusing on 'our performance and the challenge that Lansdowne present us', as they prepare for Saturday's Ulster Bank League Divsion 1A final at the Aviva Stadium.

A large crowd turned out at Lakelands Park where three penalties from the boot of Matt D'Arcy steered defending champions Clontarf to a hard-earned 9-0 semi-final win over hosts Terenure College. Check out highlights of a closely-fought Ulster Bank League Division 1A play-off.

Lansdowne topped the Division 1A table but they still have it all to do if they are to claim a second Ulster Bank League title in three seasons. It promises to be a festival atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium and in the clubhouse when they face Young Munster in Saturday's semi-final.

Young Munster are flying the flag for Limerick and Munster club rugby in the Ulster Bank League Division 1A play-offs. The Cookies are in a rich vein of form as they prepare for their semi-final clash with table toppers Lansdowne.

Terenure College have their sights set firmly on their Ulster Bank League Division 1A semi-final this weekend. Their recent resurgence is part of an ongoing programme to build a community-based club for the future. Irish Rugby TV went to Lakelands Park to see just what has spurred this initiative on.